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Chapter 20: Hunting the Squids! - Part 1
🕑 Added 2023-05-11 19:36:28 +0000 UTCDamian's first meeting with Lord Jason Mallister went quite well as the Lord of the Seagard appreciated that he rushed to their aid against the Greyjoys.
Damian talked about how the North was mobilizing and by what day they might arrive here which again brought a smile from Lord Jason's mouth. They shared their common distaste for the Ironborns and the Freys as the latter being Mallister's neighbours they had yet to send any reinforcement.
Finally, after getting to know about Lord Jason's future plan, which was to sail with his own fleet and destroy any rogue Ironman's ships in Ironman's Bay and secure it before the Northmen arrives, Damian asked what was in his mind since he arrived here.
As Damian sat across from Lord Jason Mallister, studying the man's weathered face.
Lord Jason had won a couple of Longships in a recent battle with the Ironborn, and Damian was eager to make a deal. "I hear you have won a few ships from the Ironborns, my lord," Damian said, trying to sound casual.
"Aye, I did," Lord Jason said, sipping at his ale. "Why do you ask?"
"I was hoping to purchase it from you," Damian said, leaning forward.
"And perhaps offer you my services in exchange." Lord Jason raised an eyebrow.
"And what services might those be?"
"Freeing the waters in Ironman's Bay of Ironborn control," Damian said confidently. "I have men under me who have experience in sea warfare and I intend to make full use of it in Greyjoy's Rebellion. I had my own ships but due to the long distance and abrupt start of this war, I couldn't bring them around"
Lord Jason stroked his short beard as he considered Damian's proposal. "Alright, I will give one ship for your help that too without any charge, Damian. I only wish you make good use of it and take down a few of those bastard's ships," he said finally.
"It will be my pleasure, Lord Jason. The Ironborn have been a menace for the whole of Westeros for too long. I wish the King would take serious action against them or at the very least destroy their pirating culture," Damian said, standing up.
"If you'll excuse me, my lord, I have some preparations to make" As he walked out of the Solar, Damian couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. With Lord Jason's Longship and his Warg powers, he could make a real difference in the rebellion. It was time to show everyone what he was truly capable of.
"Don't rush it, Damian. I won't send my fleet until tomorrow at least. If you go now, you would find yourself outnumbered. It's too dangerous out there." Lord Jason warned as he reached for the door.
"I know, my lord. I will be careful." Damian said confidently though to Lord Jason it sounded the boasting of a young man, yet he didn't say anything further.
"Alright, I will tell my Castellan to hand you the ship. Take care, Damian." Lord Jason said.
Damian walked out of the castle and went straight to the coast to see the captured ship. He knew that a single ship wasn't enough to clear all the Ironborn's ships from the bay on his own even if most of their fleet was down south. Still, he wanted to sail into the sea and take down a couple of Ironborn ships so he could build some merit and gain some loot to increase his own numbers and strength.
The space world assured his own safety as a last resort and his warg powers made it possible for him to hunt down weaker groups of the enemy or flee if he encountered too many ships.
Damian had bought a sky blue Falcon from the Systems store and tried warging into it numerous times since he had sailed from the Bravos. Finally, he found some success last night when they were camping out in the open. Damian bonded with the Falcon for the first time last night in the Space World and warged into the bird of prey.
It was quite a thrilling experience for Damian to fly in the sky of the space world in the body of a Falcon.
Damian wasted no time and arrived at the coast with his men and took control of one of the Longships that the Mallisters managed to keep.
The Longship was bigger than he had thought it would be. At least three times bigger than the size of a normal Viking Longship. It was better for him as the ship could hold seventy to eighty people while the normal ones could only hold some forty to fifty.
They immediately set sail after boarding the ship, with men rowing for the Cape of Eagle.
While his men were busy managing the ship, he went inside the cabin to warg into his Falcon that he had already released from the Space world before boarding the ship and was following them in the sky.
Jory and the recently recruited men weren't aware of his ability and Damian didn't wish to reveal them for a while or at least until he had to. Under the safe confine of the cabin with two guards watching over him, Damian warged into the Falcon that he named Ace and flew ahead in the direction where his ship was heading to scout for enemy ships.
He felt the wind beneath his wings and saw the Ironborn ship off in the distance.
It was well after noon when he finally spotted a lone ship flying the banner of some Ironborn lord that he did not remember. The ship had come from the direction of the Cape of Eagles and was now heading in the direction of the Iron Islands. His own ship was half an hour behind and it was highly unlikely that they could catch up to the ship that he had sighted. unless he does something to slow them down or make them turn their ship's direction to his own.
He focused his sight and saw the commanding Lord on the deck, shouting orders to his crew. He knew this was his chance.
With a screech, Damian dove towards the ship, soaring past the sails and landing on the shoulders of the Lord scaring the shit out of him. Ace, the Falcon, was thrice as big as the man's head and suddenly seeing the bird up this close would scare even the bravest one.
The crew members standing nearby also scattered in surprise and fear as Damian shifted and growled, baring his talons. The unnamed Lord drew his sword, but Damian was already upon him, sinking his beak into the man's exposed neck, tasting a man's blood for the first time.
Damian felt the life drain from the Lord, his wings flapping with victory. He took off in flight, circling the ship before the Ironborn could come out of their stupor of seeing their Lord being killed by a freaking Falcon that came out of nowhere.
And when they did, it was already too late for them to do anything. Some tried shooting him down but he was already at a safe distance from the ship. The Ironborn could do nothing but curse at him, or stomp their feet on the deck in frustration.
